DETECTION OF BRUCELLA-ABORTUS ANTIGENS BY IMMUNOPEROXIDASE HISTOCHEMICAL STAINING OF LOCHIA SMEARS

An immunoperoxidase histochemical staining technique for the detection of Brucella abortus organisms in lochia of brucellosis-infected cows was described. In comparison with the standard culture technique, the former method resulted in 36% false positive and 2,3% false negative r eactions, which represents a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 9 4%. False positive reactions are presumably the result of organisms wh ich succumbed during transit. The feasibility of the test in the confi rmation of brucellosis is discussed.